Residents of Sea Lake were saddened again in December 1959 when Stubby's wife Ollie passed away suddenly while on holidays in Portland. Like her husband she had been prominent in community affairs and was afforded the tribute in the Sea Lake Times as being "one of Sea Lake's most loyal and esteemed citizens." Ollie was born in St Arnaud in 1883 and had also been a member of a business family, her family operating a drapery business for many years. Her involvement in Sea Lake included the Red Cross, Royal Blind Auxiliary, Methodist Ladies Guild, School Committee, Soldiers' Memorial Hall, C.W.A. and Bowls Associates (President for many years).

From the valuation of the newsagency following Ollie's death an idea can be obtained of the boom years experienced in the Mallee during the late 1950s and the effect they had on small businesses in the area. Circulation of the Sun had increased to an average of 300 per day, the Herald remained at 33, the Age had increased to 28, Weekly Times 171, Womens' Weekly 128, Truth 98, Woman's Day 99, New Idea 50 and the Post 78. In expenses rent was £2, wages had risen to £27/11/-, electricity was now 10/- and telephone 10/- per week. With the earlier arrival of newspapers in town delivery boys were now employed at 15/- per week. Contractors now trucked papers to Swan Hill then on to Sea Lake arriving at around 8 am. By now turnover in newspapers was £101 per week compared with other sales of £107. Cigarette sales had fallen to just £14 per week.

The old newsagency, Jack Bailey's office to the left Mrs Palmer's cafe to the right, circa 1960.

A window display in the old newsagency.

Prosperity continued in the Sea Lake district during the early 1960s with bumper years for farmers. Loryl joined her father in the newsagency in 1963 following the completion of her schooling thereby beginning the involvement of the third generation in the business. In 1964 as the Herald went to 4d a copy, O.Gilpin's was condemned as a dry cleaner's premises due to the ravages of white ants and chemicals. As the newsagency was clearly being restrained by the confinements of its premises and the display of the stock valued at nearly £4000 in 1964 was barely adequate, Len and Audrey decided to demolish the old weatherboard and pine log sections of O.Gilpin's and build a double brick structure to house a new updated and enlarged newsagency while still providing a premises for Edward Trenchard's stock and station agency.

Alan Collier, builder of Sea Lake was contracted to erect the new building at a cost of £4784/4/4. Brickwork was carried out by Ted Lakeman and the new shop fittings were built by Bolton Brothers. In 1965 the new shop was completed and following a procession of supermarket trolleys to transport the stock from the old to the new newsagency it was business as usual in a modem up-to-date shop. Assisting Len and Loryl in the newsagency were Jenny Gregor and Barbara Rogers. During family holidays and buying trips throughout the 60s, retired family friend and Sea Lake identity, Bill Thorndel would assist with opening and closing the shop.     Wages in August 1966 amounted to $55 per week.

Len behind the main counter of the 1960s Stubbs Newsagency.